Fixing devices for roofing and siding sheets

ABSTRACT

A fixing device formed of sheet metal for securing roofing and siding sheets to a structural member has locating means to engage under a downwardly formed portion at the edge of one sheet, a strap having holes by which the device can be secured to a structural member, and clip means to enter a hollow rib of an adjacent sheet and latch into pockets inside the hollow rib. The strap joins the locating means to the clip means and serves to space the two a suitable distance apart.

D United States Patent 1 [111 3,724,154 Cookson 1 Apr. 3, 1973 [54] FIXING DEVICES FOR ROOFING AND [56] References Cited SIDING SHEETS UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventor: William Cookson, Fareham, En-

gland 2,103,569 12/1937 Wallace ..52/714 [73] Assignee: Cookson Sheet Metal Developments FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Limited, Southampto Hampshire. 229,117 7/1960 Australia ..s2/520 England Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh F D l 19 [22] 70 Attorney-Cooper, Dunham, Henninger & Clark [21] Appl. No.: 98,554 I [57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data A fixing device formed of sheet metal for securing roofing and siding sheets to a structural member has Dec. 23, 1969 Great Britain ..62,617/69 locating means to engage under a downwardly formed a portion at the edge of one sheet, a strap having holes [52] U.S.Cl. ..52/543, 52/553, 52/480 by which the device can be secured to a structural Int- Cl. ..E04d member and means to enter a hollow rib of an [58] Field of Search ..52/5l8-555, 712, adjacent sheet and latch into pockets inside the hollow 52/7l4,715 rib. The strap joins the locating means to the clip means and serves to space the two a suitable distance apart.

14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEDAPRB I975 3.724.154

sum 1 {IF 2 PATENTEUAPR 3 I975 SHEET 2 OF 2 FIXING DEVICES FOR ROOFING AND SIDING SHEETS This invention relates to fixing devices for roofing and siding sheets and especially to concealed fixing devices for such sheets. The terms roofing and siding sheets include generally any cladding sheets, especially sheets laid in an overlapping series and more especially sheets having fixing ribs intermediate the edges of the sheets which are wide angle ribs, that is to say ribs of which the side-walls make an angle with the sheet of less than 45. Sheets having wide angle ribs have been difficult to secure by use of the ribs because of the wide angle between the rib walls.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a fixing device for roofing and siding sheets having means for locating the device with respect to the sheets, means for securing the device to a structural member and, spaced from the locating means, snap-action fastening clip means which includes spring arms having portions which, on engagement of the clip with the internal walls of a hollow rib of one of the sheets and on application of pressure to the said sheet towards the clip, operate by a snap-action to latch into pockets provided in the side-walls of the hollow rib, thereby locking the fixing device to the said sheet. By use of a preferred form of fixing device according to the invention the fixing device may be secured to the roof or wall of a building before the sheet having the hollow rib is applied to the roof or wall and the sheet may then be secured to the building by applying the hollow rib to the clip means. The fixing device may thus act as a concealed fixing without the need for fixings which require penetration of the sheets and still more preferably without the need for working from the opposite side of the wall or roof from said sheets.

In a preferred embodiment, the fixing device includes a spacing member in the form of a strap, advantageously a rigid strap, having the means for locating the device with respect to the sheets at one end and the clip means towards the other end. The locating means may be through shaped to receive and engage a portion or rib of a roofing or siding sheet which is to be adjacent to another sheet to be secured by the clip means of the device.

The spring arms of the clip means are preferably formed of resilient sheet material having free ends to latch into the pockets in the side-walls of the hollow rib. They may project outwardly in opposite directions from a central portion of the clip means. Each arm may be connected to one end of a resilient upstanding inner wall which joins at its other end a central portion of the clip means. The clip may have an upstanding portion between the said inner walls to limit movement of the two inner walls towards each other. In this way, when the fixing device is locked in the hollow rib, the spring arms are restrained from movement towards each other beyond certain limits should the sheet tend to move away from the structural member, thereby reducing the risk of the rib springing off the clip means.

The fixing device is advantageously formed integrally of sheet metal and preferably the clip means comprises an upwardly formed rib, an inner wall on each side of the upwardly formed rib joined at its lower end to a lower part of the rib, and a downwardly and outwardly directed spring arm on each side joining the upper end of the wall on that side.

According to another aspect, the invention provides an assembly of roofing or siding sheets at least one having a hollow rib with pockets provided in the side-walls of the hollow rib and a fixing device as above described. One of the sheets may have a downwardly directed part for engagement with the locating means of the fixing device, the locating means being intended to be placed beneath and in engagement with the downwardly directed part. Preferably this part is provided at an edge of the sheet where, conveniently, there is a male rib designed to interlock with an overlying female rib of an adjacent sheet. The side-walls of the hollow rib may be outwardly splayed, a pocket being formed in each side-wall close to or adjacent the lower edges of the side-walls, the lower edges of the spring arms of the clip means being arranged to snap into the pockets when the hollow rib is pressed towards the clip means. The spring arms of the clip means may be substantially parallel to the side-walls of the hollow rib before and after the rib is fixed to the clip means. Sheets may be used having overlapping and interlocking lateral male and female ribs and at least one intermediate hollow rib which may be a wide-angled hollow rib as herein defined. The locating means of the device may be trough shaped to underlie and cradle a downwardly formed portion of the lateral male rib of a first sheet, the clip means being spaced from the locating means to enter and engage the hollow rib of a second, adjacent, sheet.

One form of this invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fixing device with end locating means and a fastening clip means;

FIG. 2 is a part perspective view of the fixing device secured to a portion of a building;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section view of the device during attachment of an intermediate rib of a sheet to the clip means; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the device and rib similar to that shown in FIG. 3 after assembly.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 a fixing device 6 is made of a single piece light gauge sheet metal or other suitable material appropriately cut and formed. It comprises a fastening strap in the form of a strip 8 provided at one end with locating means 10 and towards the other with fastening clip means 12. The locating means 10 are in upwardly directed trough form and are shaped to underlie and cradle a downwardly formed portion of a marginal male rib 18 of a roofing sheet 20 so that the longitudinal position of the fastening strap 8 and consequently the clip means 12 is determined by reference to the male rib 18. In FIG. 2 the locating means 10 of the device 6 is shown secured to a wood purlin 14 or any not being shown. Each sheet preferably has both a marginal male and marginal female rib for interlocking engagement with marginal female and male ribs respectively of neighboring sheets. Each sheet also preferably has at least one intermediate rib of the kind shown at 24 for sheet 78 in FIGS. 3 and 4. The fixing device has a strap length to enable the clip means to be correctly positioned to secure an intermediate rib of one sheet and by being located with respect to the male rib of a neighboring sheet which interlocks with an overlying female rib of the first mentioned sheet.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 the intermediate, in this case middle, rib 24 of roofing sheet 78 is provided with a top wall 26 and two outwardly splayed or slanting sidewalls 28, 30 which make angles with the plane of the sheet of less than 45. At the base of walls 28,30 are provided internal pockets 32,34, the pockets being upwardly directed.

The locating means as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises an upturned flange 36 at one end of the device 6, a base wall 38, an upstanding wall 40 and a hole 41 in the base wall, the flange 36, wall 38 and wall 40 forming the aforementioned trough. The clip means 12 towards the opposite end of the strap 8 comprises a central bridge portion 42 in the form of a rib in the sheet material having a top wall 44, two side walls 46,48 and a slanting front wall 50 with a depression 52 which provides clearance for the head of drive screw 22 which is driven into the hole 54 provided in the strap 8. The bridge portion 42 is shaped from the material of the sheet metal, the base of walls 46,48 for part of their length and the base of front wall 50 being integrally joined with the strap 8.

At the base of walls 46,48 for an adjacent part of their length are provided two semi-springy upstanding (inner) walls 56,58. These join through curved or bulbous nose portions 70,72 downwardly and outwardly bent spring arms or walls 60,62. The free extremities of walls 60,62 are provided with latching lips 74,76.

As shown in FIG. 2 the fixing device 6 is first located by placing the locating means 10 below and in engagement with the underside of the rib 18 of the first sheet 20 and then securing the rib and the device 6, to the purlin 14 by means of the drive screw 16. The device is then further secured by the drive screw 22. The lateral female rib (not shownfor clarity) of the second sheet 78 is lapped and secured over rib 18, thereby positioning the middle rib 24 over the clip means 12 as shown in FIG. 3. Pressing the top wall 26 of the rib 24 downwardly over the clip means 12 causes the nose portions 70,72 to engage the slanting walls 28,30 internally, causing the semi-springy walls 56,58 to move in- I wardly towards each other as the nose portions ride up the inside of the slanting walls 28,30. This action causes the latching lips 74,76 which are initially in contact with the outside of the pockets 32,34 to ride up above the pockets and then under the restoring force of walls of the portions of the walls 56,58 which are opposite the tops of the walls 46,48, that is, the shortest distance between these wall portions when the amount of inward movement of the walls 56,58 needed to enable lips 74,76 to spring into the pockets has taken place. During any subsequent wind suction uplift loading on sheet 20, inward movement of the walls 56,58 substantially past this position of closest approach during the clipping operation is limited by bridge portion 42 and the walls 60,62 are thus restrained from excessive upward movement. This helps to overcome the well known problem of semi-springy clips over-springing inwardly and so becoming disengaged from the sheet under this form of sheet loading.

The provision of bridge portion 42 also stifi'ens and strengthens the fixing device 6 and so minimizes the danger of damage in transport and on the building site. The fixing device provides a simple, accurate and rapid method for assembling roofing sheets on the outsides of a building without having to resort to interior work to secure the sheets.

What is claimed is:

1. A fixing device for roofing and siding sheets, each of which has a male rib at one end, a female rib at the other end and at least one intermediate hollow rib with internal pockets, the device being securable to a structural member and having a. means for locating the device with respect to a male rib of a first one of the sheets, the locating means being engageable with the said male rib so that the fixing device and the said first sheet are restrained from a relative lateral movement,

. a snap-action fastening clip spaced from the locating means and including spring arms having free ends for engagement with the internal pockets of an intermediate rib of a second one of the sheets, which second sheet is to be secured to the structural member adjacent the first sheet,

. a spacing member having the locating means at one end and the clip at the other end and maintaining the locating means and clip at a predetermined distance apart, and

d. wherein the fixing device is integrally formed of sheet metal, the locating means are in the form of a trough upwardly directed'from a strap constituting the spacing member, and the clip means includes an upwardly formed rib, an inner wall on each side of the upwardly formed rib joined at its lower end to a lower part of the rib, and the said spring arms are two in number, one being downwardly and outwardly directed on each side of the clip and joining the upper end of the inner wall on that side.

2. A fixing device according to claim 1 wherein the device, including the locating means and the clip means, is formed integrally of sheet metal.

3. A fixing device according to claim 1 wherein the device is securable to a structural member by means of at least two apertures in the device to receive screw or like securing devices, one aperture being in or close to the locating means and another adjacent or close to the' clip means.

4. An assembly of cladding sheets having hollow ribs with pockets in the side walls opening into the inside of the rib and a fixing device having locating means to locate against a portion of a lateral rib of a first sheet,

snap-action fastening clip means including spring arms having portions to latch by a snap-action into the pockets in the hollow rib side walls of a second sheet which is to be adjacent the first sheet on application of pressure to the second sheet towards the clip means to lock the fixing device to the hollow rib of the second sheet, each spring arm being joined to one end of a resilient upstanding inner wall which joins at its other end a central portion of the clip means, the central portion providing abutments between the said inner walls to limit movement of the two inner walls towards each other, the clip means further including a fastening strap joining the locating means and the clip means and having means whereby it can be secured to a structural member.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein the first sheet has an upwardly fonned lateral rib with a downwardly formed portion for engagement by the locating means and the second sheet has an upwardly formed lateral rib to overlie and interlock with the male rib of the first sheet, the hollow rib securable by the fixing device being intermediate the edges of the second sheet.

6. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein the sidewalls of the hollow rib have lower edges towards which they slope outwardly and downwardly, the said pocket in each side-wall being close to or adjacent the lower edge of the side-wall.

7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein the pockets of the side-walls have upwardly directed mouths.

8. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein the spring arms of the clip means are substantially parallel to the side-walls of the hollow rib before and after the rib is fixed to the clip means.

9. An assembly of cladding sheets and a fixing device according to claim 4 wherein the said first and second sheets each have a hollow rib with pockets provided in side-walls of the hollow rib and each sheet has a lateral one end and the clip at the other end and maintaining the locating means and clip at a predetermined 7 distance apart, and d. wherein there are two said spring arms, one being downwardly and outwardly directed from each of the o posed sides of the clip, each arm bein ome at its upper and inward end to an upstan jecting portion of the said male rib of the first sheet.

rib in addition to the hollow rib, the lateral rib having a downwardly formed portion for engagement with the locating means of the fixing device.

10. A fixing device for roofing and siding sheets, each of which has a male rib at one end, a female rib at the other end and at least one intermediate hollow rib with internal pockets, the device being securable to a structural member and having a. means for locating the device with respect to a male rib of a first one of the sheets, the locating means being engageable with the said male rib so that the fixing device and the said first sheet are restrained from a relative lateral movement,

. a snap-action fastening clip spaced from the locating means and including spring arms having free ends for engagement with the internal pockets of an intermediate rib of a secondone of the sheets, which second sheet is to be secured to the structural member adjacent the first sheet,

c. a spacing member having the locating means at 12. A fixing device according to claim 10 wherein the junction of each said upstanding member and the respective spring arm is so positioned as to be capable of slidingengagement with internal walls of the intermediate hollow rib of the said second sheet engaged by the clip whereby the said upstanding members are bent inwardly towards each other when pressure is applied to the second sheet to urge it towards the clip.

13. An assembly of at least two cladding sheets and a fixing device for use with the sheets, I

a. each cladding sheet having a male rib at one end and a female rib at the other end and at least one intermediate hollow rib with internal pockets, the said male rib of a first sheet being capable of underlying and interlocking with the said female rib of a second sheet when the first and second sheets are juxtaposed,

the fixing device being securable to a structural member and having means for locating the device with respect to the said male rib of the said first sheet, the locating means being engageable with the said male rib so that the fixing device and the said first sheet are restrained from a relative lateral movement, a snap-action fastening clip spaced from the locating means and including spring arms having free ends for engagement with the internal pockets of an intermediate rib of the said second sheet which second sheet is to be secured to the structural member adjacent the first sheet, and a spacing member having the locating means at one end and the clip at the other end and maintaining the locating means and clip at a predetermined distance apart, the said predetermined distance apart of the locating means and the clip being equal to the distance apart of the said male rib of the first sheet and the said intermediate rib of the second sheet engaged by the clip when the said male rib of the first sheet and the said female rib of the second sheet are interlocked.

14. An assembly according to claim 13 wherein the said male rib of the first sheet has a downwardly directed part suitable for engagement with a trough of the fixing device forming the said locating means. 

1. A fixing device for roofing and siding sheets, each of which has a male rib at one end, a female rib at the other end and at least one intermediate hollow rib with internal pockets, the device being securable to a structural member and having a. means for locating the device with respect to a male rib of a first one of the sheets, the locating means being engageable with the said male rib so that the fixing device and the said first sheet are restrained from a relative lateral movement, b. a snap-action fastening clip spaced from the locating means and including spring arms having free ends for engagement with the internal pockets of an intermediate rib of a second one of the sheets, which second sheet is to be secured to the structural member adjacent the first sheet, c. a spacing member having the locating means at one end and the clip at the other end and maintaining the locating means and clip at a predetermined distance apart, and d. wherein the fixing device is integrally formed of sheet metal, the locating means are in the form of a trough upwardly directed from a strap constituting the spacing member, and the clip means includes an upwardly formed rib, an inner wall on each side of the upwardly formed rib joined at its lower end to a lower part of the rib, and the said spring arms are two in number, one being downwardly and outwardly directed on each side of the clip and joining the upper end of the inner wall on that side.
 2. A fixing device according to claim 1 wherein the device, including the locating means and the clip means, is formed integrally of sheet metal.
 3. A fixing device according to claim 1 wherein the device is securable to a structural member by means of at least two apertures in the device to receive screw or like securing devices, one aperture being in or close to the locating means and another adjacent or close to the clip means.
 4. An assembly of cladding sheets having hollow ribs with pockets in the side walls opening into the inside of the rib and a fixing device having locating means to locate against a portion of a lateral rib of a first sheet, snap-action fastening clip means including spring arms having portions to latch by a snap-action into the pockets in the hollow rib side walls of a second sheet which is to be adjacent the first sheet on application of pressure to the second sheet towards the clip means to lock the fixing device to the hollow rib of the second sheet, each spring arm being joined to one end of a resilient upstanding inner wall which joins at its other end a central portion of the clip means, the central portion providing abutments between the said inner walls to limit movement of the two inner walls towards each other, the clip means further including a fastening strap joining the locating means and the clip means and having means whereby it can be secured to a structural member.
 5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein the first sheet has an upwardly formed lateral rib with a downwardly formed portion for engagement by the locating means and the second sheet has an upwardly formed lateral rib to overlie and interlock with the male rib of the first sheet, the hollow rib securable by the fixing device being intermediate the edges of the second sheet.
 6. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein the sidewalls of the hollow rib have lower edges towards which they slope outwardly and downwardly, the said pocket in each side-wall being close to or adjacent the lower edge of the side-wall.
 7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein the pockets of the side-walls have upwardly directed mouths.
 8. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein the sprIng arms of the clip means are substantially parallel to the side-walls of the hollow rib before and after the rib is fixed to the clip means.
 9. An assembly of cladding sheets and a fixing device according to claim 4 wherein the said first and second sheets each have a hollow rib with pockets provided in side-walls of the hollow rib and each sheet has a lateral rib in addition to the hollow rib, the lateral rib having a downwardly formed portion for engagement with the locating means of the fixing device.
 10. A fixing device for roofing and siding sheets, each of which has a male rib at one end, a female rib at the other end and at least one intermediate hollow rib with internal pockets, the device being securable to a structural member and having a. means for locating the device with respect to a male rib of a first one of the sheets, the locating means being engageable with the said male rib so that the fixing device and the said first sheet are restrained from a relative lateral movement, b. a snap-action fastening clip spaced from the locating means and including spring arms having free ends for engagement with the internal pockets of an intermediate rib of a second one of the sheets, which second sheet is to be secured to the structural member adjacent the first sheet, c. a spacing member having the locating means at one end and the clip at the other end and maintaining the locating means and clip at a predetermined distance apart, and d. wherein there are two said spring arms, one being downwardly and outwardly directed from each of the opposed sides of the clip, each arm being joined at its upper and inward end to an upstanding member, the two upstanding members being resiliently joined to the device at their lower ends, there being abutment means between the said upstanding members which prevent their movement towards each other beyond fixed limits.
 11. A fixing device according to claim 10 wherein the locating means is a trough suitable to receive a projecting portion of the said male rib of the first sheet.
 12. A fixing device according to claim 10 wherein the junction of each said upstanding member and the respective spring arm is so positioned as to be capable of sliding engagement with internal walls of the intermediate hollow rib of the said second sheet engaged by the clip whereby the said upstanding members are bent inwardly towards each other when pressure is applied to the second sheet to urge it towards the clip.
 13. An assembly of at least two cladding sheets and a fixing device for use with the sheets, a. each cladding sheet having a male rib at one end and a female rib at the other end and at least one intermediate hollow rib with internal pockets, the said male rib of a first sheet being capable of underlying and interlocking with the said female rib of a second sheet when the first and second sheets are juxtaposed, b. the fixing device being securable to a structural member and having c. means for locating the device with respect to the said male rib of the said first sheet, the locating means being engageable with the said male rib so that the fixing device and the said first sheet are restrained from a relative lateral movement, d. a snap-action fastening clip spaced from the locating means and including spring arms having free ends for engagement with the internal pockets of an intermediate rib of the said second sheet which second sheet is to be secured to the structural member adjacent the first sheet, and e. a spacing member having the locating means at one end and the clip at the other end and maintaining the locating means and clip at a predetermined distance apart, the said predetermined distance apart of the locating means and the clip being equal to the distance apart of the said male rib of the first sheet and the said intermediate rib of the second sheet engaged by the clip when the said male rib of the first sheet and the said female rib of the second sheet are interlocked.
 14. An assembly according to claim 13 wherein the said male rib of the first sheet has a downwardly directed part suitable for engagement with a trough of the fixing device forming the said locating means. 